White supremacists sentenced to life in prison for killing sex offender, wife

Jeremy Moody and his wife, Christine Moody were sentenced to two consecutive life sentences in prison Tuesday for the murders of a Jonesville couple in 2013.
TIM KIMZEY / tim.kimzey@shj.com

By Kim Kimzey

Published: Wednesday, May 7, 2014 at 12:18 AM.

Theirs was a “fairy tale love.”

Jeremy Lee Moody and Christine Moody asked a judge to show mercy and give them the same sentence — the 30-year minimum — so they could grow old together. Instead they’ll spend life in separate prison cells for murdering a Jonesville couple.

Christine Susan Moody, 37, shuffled into a courtroom Tuesday shackled and smiling. She looked lovingly at her husband, Jeremy Moody, 31, who also stood shackled in a jail uniform. One would think they were preparing to exchange vows rather than enter guilty pleas for several crimes.

They pleaded guilty to two counts each of murder, kidnapping, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a violent crime. They also pleaded guilty to one count each of first-degree burglary.

“Mrs. Parker was not on the sex offender registry. However, according to Mrs. Moody’s statement, they killed her just because she had the poor judgment to be with Mr. Parker. That was enough to justify executing Mrs. Parker in her living room,” Brackett said.

Jeremy Moody even puckered his lips as if to blow a kiss at his wife. They shared a long kiss after receiving two consecutive life sentences.

Brackett said the couple has seemed unconcerned, even proud, of what he called a cold, calculated murder in which they shot and repeatedly stabbed the Parkers.

Responding to a call from a person concerned about the Parkers’ welfare, Brackett said a Union County sheriff’s deputy went to the Parkers’ home at 2809 Furman Fendley Highway at 8 p.m. July 22, 2013. The deputy found their bloody bodies in their living room.

Charles Parker had been shot twice in the chest and stabbed several times. Gretchen Parker had been shot in the chest and stabbed twice in the neck and once in the chest.

Investigators used the Parkers’ video security system to track down the suspects. Video revealed that around 1:30 p.m. July 21 a car, later identified as Christine Moody’s, pulled up in the Parkers’ yard. Jeremy Parker lifted the hood. Charles Parker went outside to help him. The couple was later forced at gunpoint into their home.

Officers identified Jeremy Moody by his tattoos. “Skinhead” runs across his neck, horns are tattooed on his head, as well as “Made in America.”

Brackett said Jeremy Moody admitted planning the murder for some time.

Christine Moody initially denied involvement. She later said she was a willing participant and stabbed the couple, Brackett said.

Officers found a handgun that was determined to be the murder weapon. The couple also led officers to the knife, Brackett said.

Three family members of the victims asked Alford to impose life sentences on the Moodys.

Gretchen’s sister, Melissa Cole, told Alford that Gretchen had “overcome many obstacles” and “saw beauty in everything,” made daily calls to her mentally challenged niece and cared for animals before the Moodys “butchered” her.

“My sister never met a stranger. She was loved by everyone who knew her and she had many friends,” Cole said.

Cole said the Moodys were “absolute animals to have shot my brother-in-law twice, stabbed him to death, then turn, shoot my sister in the heart, slit her throat and mutilate her body, and then brag about it.”

According to a criminal history provided by the State Law Enforcement Division, Charles Parker was convicted of third-degree criminal sexual conduct stemming from a February 2003 charge in which the Parkers were accused of assaulting a 31-year-old mentally challenged woman, according to an incident report.

The charge was dropped against Gretchen Parker. Charles Parker, Brackett said was convicted and sentenced to 10 years in prison, suspended upon five years of probation.

Brackett said the Moodys indicated that they had chosen their next victim – another sex offender – when they were arrested.

Public defender Harry Dest represented Jeremy Moody and attempted to offer a “more complete picture” of factors that contributed to his client’s crimes. Dest said Jeremy Moody is severely mentally ill and suffers extreme paranoia, delusions and loses touch with reality when not on medicine.

Although Jeremy Moody is mentally ill, Dest told Alford that he was competent.

Dest said Jeremy Moody “has struggled tragically with a dark family secret for many years.” Dest said one of Jeremy Moody’s relatives sexually abused several family members. A forensic psychiatrist testified that Jeremy Moody denied that he had been sexually abused.

“He has seen firsthand the destructive nature of sexual abuse and how victims are emotionally, physically, and psychologically scarred for their entire life and that has had a profound effect on him,” Dest said.

Morgan said Jeremy Moody had not taken his medications for several weeks before the murders.

“As a manifestation of his illness, he began to think that God appointed him to avenge all these victims by getting rid of all these sex offenders in the world. He said he felt like he was the right hand of God,” Morgan said.

Dest read letters from people who described Jeremy Moody as a “fine young man” who helped others and had been active in church.

Jeremy Moody addressed the judge. He said he regretted his actions.

“I know that what I’ve done is a sin and I believe that God has forgiven me of it. …On the right medications, this would have never happened. Please have mercy on Christine and I so we can still have the chance to grow old together,” Jeremy Moody said.

Christine Moody’s court-appointed attorney, Derek Chiarenza, asked the court for mercy on Christine Moody. Chiarenza said part of the decision to enter guilty pleas was avoiding a possible death penalty trial.

“From the age of 2, Christine has suffered sexual abuse, and that abuse continued up until the time of her early teens,” Chiarenza told Alford.

Sexually abused most of her childhood, she was later raped by a pedophile who was convicted, sentenced to three years and served 18 months and stalked Christine Moody after his release from prison, Chiarenza said.

“Not that it’s an excuse your honor, but nothing happens in a vacuum,” Chiarenza said.

He said Christine Moody suffered post-traumatic stress disorder, borderline personality disorder and antisocial personality, which Chiarenza said essentially made Christine Moody have no empathy for others.

Christine Moody’s mother-in-law wrote in a letter that Chiarenza read aloud that she considered Christine her own daughter and said three months after marriage, she was diagnosed with cancer.

“She was a loving and caring wife and mother even when she was so sick from the chemotherapy,” Chiarenza read.

Christine Moody also addressed the court.

She read from Psalm 69 and told Alford she was sorry that she broke the commandment against murder. She asked Alford to let her have the same sentence as her husband and let them grow old together.

“Jeremy and I have what is referred to as fairy tale love — it’s truly like nothing anyone has experienced,” Christine Moody said.

“Never kissing my husband or feeling his touch is my very nightmare,” she said.

Judge Alford noted that the two had smiled at each other throughout the proceeding and said there was no question in his mind that they acted together and planned the brutal murder of the Parkers.

“I believe that if these two were to get out of jail, I would be concerned that they would do exactly the same thing again,” Alford said. “There isn’t any question about it.”

Jeremy Lee Moody and Christine Moody asked a judge to show mercy and give them the same sentence — the 30-year minimum — so they could grow old together. Instead they’ll spend life in separate prison cells for murdering a Jonesville couple.

Christine Susan Moody, 37, shuffled into a courtroom Tuesday shackled and smiling. She looked lovingly at her husband, Jeremy Moody, 31, who also stood shackled in a jail uniform. One would think they were preparing to exchange vows rather than enter guilty pleas for several crimes.

They pleaded guilty to two counts each of murder, kidnapping, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a violent crime. They also pleaded guilty to one count each of first-degree burglary.

“Mrs. Parker was not on the sex offender registry. However, according to Mrs. Moody’s statement, they killed her just because she had the poor judgment to be with Mr. Parker. That was enough to justify executing Mrs. Parker in her living room,” Brackett said.

Jeremy Moody even puckered his lips as if to blow a kiss at his wife. They shared a long kiss after receiving two consecutive life sentences.

Brackett said the couple has seemed unconcerned, even proud, of what he called a cold, calculated murder in which they shot and repeatedly stabbed the Parkers.

Responding to a call from a person concerned about the Parkers’ welfare, Brackett said a Union County sheriff’s deputy went to the Parkers’ home at 2809 Furman Fendley Highway at 8 p.m. July 22, 2013. The deputy found their bloody bodies in their living room.

Charles Parker had been shot twice in the chest and stabbed several times. Gretchen Parker had been shot in the chest and stabbed twice in the neck and once in the chest.

Investigators used the Parkers’ video security system to track down the suspects. Video revealed that around 1:30 p.m. July 21 a car, later identified as Christine Moody’s, pulled up in the Parkers’ yard. Jeremy Parker lifted the hood. Charles Parker went outside to help him. The couple was later forced at gunpoint into their home.

Officers identified Jeremy Moody by his tattoos. “Skinhead” runs across his neck, horns are tattooed on his head, as well as “Made in America.”

Brackett said Jeremy Moody admitted planning the murder for some time.

Christine Moody initially denied involvement. She later said she was a willing participant and stabbed the couple, Brackett said.

Officers found a handgun that was determined to be the murder weapon. The couple also led officers to the knife, Brackett said.

Three family members of the victims asked Alford to impose life sentences on the Moodys.

Gretchen’s sister, Melissa Cole, told Alford that Gretchen had “overcome many obstacles” and “saw beauty in everything,” made daily calls to her mentally challenged niece and cared for animals before the Moodys “butchered” her.

“My sister never met a stranger. She was loved by everyone who knew her and she had many friends,” Cole said.

Cole said the Moodys were “absolute animals to have shot my brother-in-law twice, stabbed him to death, then turn, shoot my sister in the heart, slit her throat and mutilate her body, and then brag about it.”

According to a criminal history provided by the State Law Enforcement Division, Charles Parker was convicted of third-degree criminal sexual conduct stemming from a February 2003 charge in which the Parkers were accused of assaulting a 31-year-old mentally challenged woman, according to an incident report.

The charge was dropped against Gretchen Parker. Charles Parker, Brackett said was convicted and sentenced to 10 years in prison, suspended upon five years of probation.

Brackett said the Moodys indicated that they had chosen their next victim – another sex offender – when they were arrested.

Public defender Harry Dest represented Jeremy Moody and attempted to offer a “more complete picture” of factors that contributed to his client’s crimes. Dest said Jeremy Moody is severely mentally ill and suffers extreme paranoia, delusions and loses touch with reality when not on medicine.

Although Jeremy Moody is mentally ill, Dest told Alford that he was competent.

Dest said Jeremy Moody “has struggled tragically with a dark family secret for many years.” Dest said one of Jeremy Moody’s relatives sexually abused several family members. A forensic psychiatrist testified that Jeremy Moody denied that he had been sexually abused.

“He has seen firsthand the destructive nature of sexual abuse and how victims are emotionally, physically, and psychologically scarred for their entire life and that has had a profound effect on him,” Dest said.

Morgan said Jeremy Moody had not taken his medications for several weeks before the murders.

“As a manifestation of his illness, he began to think that God appointed him to avenge all these victims by getting rid of all these sex offenders in the world. He said he felt like he was the right hand of God,” Morgan said.

Dest read letters from people who described Jeremy Moody as a “fine young man” who helped others and had been active in church.

Jeremy Moody addressed the judge. He said he regretted his actions.

“I know that what I’ve done is a sin and I believe that God has forgiven me of it. …On the right medications, this would have never happened. Please have mercy on Christine and I so we can still have the chance to grow old together,” Jeremy Moody said.

Christine Moody’s court-appointed attorney, Derek Chiarenza, asked the court for mercy on Christine Moody. Chiarenza said part of the decision to enter guilty pleas was avoiding a possible death penalty trial.

“From the age of 2, Christine has suffered sexual abuse, and that abuse continued up until the time of her early teens,” Chiarenza told Alford.

Sexually abused most of her childhood, she was later raped by a pedophile who was convicted, sentenced to three years and served 18 months and stalked Christine Moody after his release from prison, Chiarenza said.

“Not that it’s an excuse your honor, but nothing happens in a vacuum,” Chiarenza said.

He said Christine Moody suffered post-traumatic stress disorder, borderline personality disorder and antisocial personality, which Chiarenza said essentially made Christine Moody have no empathy for others.

Christine Moody’s mother-in-law wrote in a letter that Chiarenza read aloud that she considered Christine her own daughter and said three months after marriage, she was diagnosed with cancer.

“She was a loving and caring wife and mother even when she was so sick from the chemotherapy,” Chiarenza read.

Christine Moody also addressed the court.

She read from Psalm 69 and told Alford she was sorry that she broke the commandment against murder. She asked Alford to let her have the same sentence as her husband and let them grow old together.

“Jeremy and I have what is referred to as fairy tale love — it’s truly like nothing anyone has experienced,” Christine Moody said.

“Never kissing my husband or feeling his touch is my very nightmare,” she said.

Judge Alford noted that the two had smiled at each other throughout the proceeding and said there was no question in his mind that they acted together and planned the brutal murder of the Parkers.

“I believe that if these two were to get out of jail, I would be concerned that they would do exactly the same thing again,” Alford said. “There isn’t any question about it.”